Outriggers



Jan. 23, 1968 E. vv GARNETT 3,365,214

v OUTRIGGERS Filed April 28,1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l F g INVENTOR.

Edward V. Garnett ATTORNEYS Jan. 23, 1968 E. v.v GARNETT 3,365,214

OUTRIGGERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1966 6 4 5 6 3 5 4. "N 5 4.9 :l wf .Il Vl||||frlL L HII f 2?# 5 e 5 v 2 B 6 3 2 O .,m. 4 2 7 n .my F.

INVENTOR. Edward V. G'qrneft` Fig 5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,365,214 GUTRIGGERS Edward V. Garnett, 2300 E. 40th Ave., Denver, Colo. 80205 Filed Apr. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 546,037 8 Claims. (Cl. M30-150.5)

This invention relates to outriggers, which are adapted to stabilize a boom, truck or other vehicle on which a derrick or the like is mounted.

Numerous and varied types of outriggers have been utilized, many of which operate quite satisfactorily but are unduly complicated and require expensive hydraulic or pneumatic control equipment. Thus, there is a definite need for a relatively inexpensive Outrigger, which will be as eiective in use as considerably more complicated and considerably more expensive outriggers.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a novel Outrigger; to provide such an Outrigger which may be readily installed on a vehicle; to provide such an outrigger which is simple and effective in operation; to provide such an Outrigger which does not require expensive control equipment; to provide such an Outrigger which is balanced, so that it may be moved manually and with ease between storage and use positions, as well as vice versa; to provide such an Outrigger which will be effectively locked in use position; to provide such an Outrigger, the parts of which are eifectively held in storage position; and to provide such an Outrigger which is economical to manufacture.

The foregoing and additional objects of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a pair of outriggers constructed in accordance with the invention, mounted on opposite sides of the rear of a truck, on which is mounted a rotatable and extensible derrick, the outriggers being shown in down or use position and the truck, derrick and load being shown in phantom outline;

FIG. 2 is a three quarter rear perspective view of the left Outrigger of FIG. 1, in storage position, with the truck being shown fragmentarily in phantom outline;

FIG. 3 is a three quarter rear perspective view, similar to FIG. 2, but with the Outrigger in a position intermediate the storage and use positions;

FIG. 4 is a Condensed, top plan View of an Outrigger of FIG. 1, in down or use position;

FIG. 5 is an offset longitudinal section, taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4, but with the Outrigger shifted to a position intermediate that of FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG, 7 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, a pair of outriggers constructed in accordance with this invention may be mounted on a truck T having a bed 10, on which is mounted an extensible and retractable derrick D, which is also rotatable about a vertical axis, so as to extend from the truck to any position around a full circle.

An Outrigger constructed in accordance with this invention consists essentially of three relatively simple parts, thus comprising a support or mounting bracket B, which is attached on Or to the bed or frame of the truck,a leg L, which is adapted to engage the ground on the side on which the Outrigger is mounted, as in FIG. 1, or to be moved to the storage position of FIG. 2, during such movement passing through the position of FIG. 3. The Outrigger also includes a cam link C, which is adapted to hold the leg L in down position and is also held by the leg L in an upright position, when the Outrigger is in its storage position, as in FIG. 2. Of course, when the leg L stt) Mice

is being moved from the storage position of FIG. 2 to the down or use position of FIG. 1, the parts also pass through the intermediate position of FIG. 3. The Outrigger brackets B are connected, as by welding, to the bed 10 or frame of the truck, primarily to prevent the truck from tipping over when a load is being handled at one side or the other and also to stabilize the derrick when lifting or positioning loads. Thus, the outriggers counteract compression Of the tires on wheels 11, when a heavy load is placed On the derrick, or a slightly lighter load is being handled at a distance to one side of the truck, as well as compression of the springs of the truck, which may permit the truck bed to tip laterally upon the imposition of a heavy load.

The derrick D includes a rotatable support 12, an extensible and retractable boom 13, which also may be raised or lowered to different angular positions, and a hoist cable 14 to which a load 15 may be attached, as by slings, as shown. Reectors 16, mounted on the lower or outer end of each leg L, as well as on each bracket B and on the rear of the truck bed 10, form no part of this invention, but are provided for obvious safety purposes. The leg L of the Outrigger includes a foot pad 18, which is shown as a plate but may be corrugated Or provided with projections of any desired type, in order to engage the r ground more securely, while the leg L is pivoted on a leg pivot pin 19, at the lower corner of bracket B, and the cam link C is pivoted on a cam link pivot pin 20, at the upper corner of bracket B. Bracket B is conveniently triangular in shape, as shown, although other shapes may be utilized.

In accordance with this invention, the cam link C is provided with a longer, convex gear segment 21 extending arcuately at its outer end, while the upper or inner end of the leg L is provided with a shorter, convex gear segment 22, although the latter may be straight, so that more teeth are engaged in the use position of FIG, 1. The teeth of gear segments 21 and 22 are adapted to interengage to hold the Outrigger leg L in the down or use position. In the storage position, the leg L is maintained upright by a latch 23, as in FIG. 2, while the leg L holds the cam link C in its upright position. When the latch 23 is released, the leg L is balanced, so that it will move downwardly slightly, by its own weight, with the cam link C following it, until the teeth of gear segment 21 engage the teeth of gear segment 22. Normally, the gear teeth of cam link gear segment 21 will ride over the gear teeth of leg segment 22, until the foot pad 18 reaches the ground. The Outrigger should be lowered to use position without any overhanging load on the derrick, so that the Outrigger on either side will be extended clear to the ground, although foot pressure on foot pad 18 may permit another gear tooth or two to be taken up. Thus, in the lowered or use position of FIG. l, the teeth adjacent the outer end of cam link gear segment 21, as shown, are normally in engagement with the teeth or gear segment 22. When an overhanging load is produced by appropriate shifting and extension of the derrick boom 13, the torque tending to twist the truck T about its longitudinal axis will force those teeth of gear segment 21 which are in engagement with teeth of gear segment 22 more iirmly together and produce a positive locking action, which will prevent the gear segment 22 from slipping back on the gear segment 21. Thus, with an appropriate width of the gear segments and particularly with a number of teeth in engagement, such as all of the teeth of the shorter gear segment 22, a load equal to that of the capacity of the boom can be resisted by the gear segments.

The bracket B, as in FIGS. 4-7, includes a pair of side plates 25 and 26, which are generally triangular in shape, but have a ilat upper end and are attached at their lower edges to opposite sides of a base plate 27, with side plate 25 conveniently being bent around to form an end plate 28, as in FIG. 4, or both side plates and the end plate may be integral. The bracket plates are conveniently welded together and are also conveniently welded to the bed of the truck. The leg pivot pin 19 and cam link pivot pin both conveniently extend between the side plates and 26, while a stop plate 29, adapted to limit the inward movement of the cam link C and prevent it falling over when in storage position, extends across the tops of the side plates 25 and 26 and is conveniently welded to both of the side plates, as well as to the end plate 27. The latch 23, having a hook 30, is conveniently pivoted on the inside of one of the side plates, such as side plate 25, and on a pivot bolt 31, as in FIG. 7. Also, a pair of xed sleeves 32 and 33 are attached, as by Welding, in appropriate holes in the side plates, with each extending7 into the interior of the bracket and sleeve 33 also extending to the outside, to receive cam link pivot pin 20, which may be held in iixed position by a cotter pin 34 of FiGS. 4 and 5.

At the outer, lower corner of the bracket B, as in FIG. 4, a pair of fixed bushings 35 are also attached, as by welding, in appropriate holes in the side plates 25 and 26, to receive the pivot pin 19 of leg L. Bushings 35 extend both inwardly and outwardly from the side plates while leg pivot pin 19 may be held against lateral displacement by a pair of Cotter pins 36. As in FIG. 5, a cable bracket 37 is attached, as by welding, to the inside of bottom plate 27, for attachment thereto of one end of cable 38, the opposite end of which is attached to a spring 39, which counterbalances the weight of the leg L, in a manner described later.

The cam link C includes side plates 40, a top plate 41 and a bottom plate 42, each attached, as by welding, at its inner end to a bushing 43 which surrounds xed pivot pin 20 and is adapted to pivot thereon between sleeves 32 and 33. The side plates and top and bottom plates may be separate pieces welded together to form a box-like structure, or two angular pieces, one piece including one side plate and the top plate and the other including the other side plate and the bottom plate, with an appropriate bend for the corner between. The outer ends of the side plates and also the topy and bottom plates are attached, as by welding, to the gear segment 21, the outer ends of the side plates being appropriately cut to correspond to the concave contour of the inside of gear segment Z1. The outer end of each of the top plate 41 and bottom plate 42 are also welded to the corresponding ends ofthe gear segment 21.

The leg L includes a pair of side plates 45, a top plate 46 and a bottom plate 47, which are welded together along the corners to form a tapering, box-like structure, or two of which may be formed together by bending at one of the corners, as in FIG. 6. At the outer end ofthe leg, the ends of the plates are attached, as by welding, to the foot pad 18, while a spring bracket 48 is welded into position between the foot pad 1S and top plate 46, on the inside, for attachment of the opposite end of spring 39. The inner end of the leg L is open, except for parts including a pair of sleeves 49, which are attached, as by welding, between side plates and also to the inner end of bottom plate 47, for engagement with pivot pin 19, as in FIG. 4. The gear segment 22 is welded between the side plates 45, while a cable pin 5t), which carries a roller 5ft for cable 36, also extends between the side plates 45. A bolt 52, as in FIG. 6, is conveniently threaded into a tap-pcd hole in the appropriate side plate 45, for engagement by hook 30 of latch 23, as in FIG. 2. A pad 53, formed of resilient material, such as rubber, is mounted on the outer surface of top -plate 46, to prevent damage to the teeth of gear segment 21, when the latch 23 is unlocked and the leg L moves downwardly, particularly in the event that cam link C is later ilipped down onto the leg.

As will be evident, each of the brackets B, leg L and cam link C is formed as a box-like structure which imparts rigidity. Also, the force of spring 39 is selected so that the weight of leg L is counterbalanced, such force preferably being suilicient that only a small effort is necessary to push the leg L from the down or use position ofV FIG. l up through the intermediate position of FIG. 3 and to the storage position of FiG. 2. Of course, when the Outrigger is to be placed in storage position, there will be no overhanging load on the truck, so that the cam link C may be pivoted upwardly by hand and the leg L then raised. As the leg is raised, the gear segment 21 will move along the pad 53 until the leg and cam link reach the storage position. In storage position, the lower edge of gear segment 21 will abut pad 53, while the link is prevented from overturning in the opposite direction by the stop plate 29, which also further reinforces the bracket B.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that an Outrigger constructed in accordance with this invention fulfills to a marked degree the requirements and objects hereinbefore set forth. Although a preferred form of this invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that other embodiments may exist and that various changes and variations may be made, all without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An Outrigger for stabilizing a vehicle or the like, comprising:

a sup-port adapted to be mounted on said vehicle;

a leg pivotally mounted at its inner end on said support and having ground engaging means at its outer end, said leg being movable between a lower ground engaging position and an upper storage position;

a link pivotally mounted at its inner end on said support and movable between a lower, leg engaging position and an upper storage position;

releasable means provided on said link and leg or cooperatively causing said link to hold said leg against upward movement when said leg is in ground engaging position; and

latch means for holding said leg in a generally upright storage position, said leg and link being constructed and arranged so that said leg, when latched, will hold said link in a generally upright storage position against a portion of said support.

2. An Outrigger as dened in claim 1, including:

latch means for holding said leg in a generally upright storage position, said leg and link being constructed and arranged so that said leg, when latched, will hold said link in a generally upright storage position against a portion of said support.

3. An Outrigger as defined in claim 1, including:

means for balancing the overhanging weight of said pivoted leg, during movement between use and storage positions, including a spring disposed within said leg, said leg being hollow.

4. In an Outrigger for stabilizing a vehicle or the like, including a support adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, a leg pivotally mounted at its inner end on said support and having ground engaging means at its outer end, said leg being movable between a lower ground engaging position and an upper storage position, a link pivotally mounted at its inner end on said support and movable between a lower, leg engaging position and an upper storage position, and releasable means for cooperatively causing said link to hold said leg against upward movement when said leg is in ground engaging position, the improvement wherein:

said leg comprises a box-like structure having spaced side walls and closed at the outer end by a foot pad but generally open at the inner end, said box-like structure having a lesser cross sectional area a't the outer end than at the inner end and being pivoted to said support at the lower inner end of said leg, with a gear segment having trannverse teeth and convex on the tooth side mounted between said side walls at the upper inner end;

said support comprises a box-like structure having an open front and spaced side walls between which said leg and link may move, the front edges of said side walls sloping downwardly and outwardly;

said link comprises a box-like structure having spaced side walls whose edges diverge from the inner to the outer end, said link being pivotally mounted between said side walls of said support adjacent the front upper corner of said support and having a closed front end formed by a -gear segment having transverse teeth and convex on the tooth side, said teeth of said link gear segment being greater in number than the teeth of said leg gear segments, so that teeth of said leg segment will be engaged by teeth of said link gear segment in a plurality of angular positions of said leg and link remote from said storage position; and

said support having a transverse top plate attached to the side walls thereof and positioned to limit the rearward pivotal movement of said link.

5. An Outrigger as defined in claim 4, including:

latch pivotally mounted on one side wall of said support and means mounted on the corresponding side wall of said leg for engaging said latch, for holding said leg in storage position;

a pad of resilient material on the top of said leg for engagement by said link gear segment as said leg and link are moved to or from storage position and a use position in which said gear segments are engaged;

a spring within said box structure of said leg and connected to said leg adjacent the outer end thereof;

a cable attached between the inner end of said spring and the inside of said support; and

a roller engaged by said cable and pivotally mounted between the side walls of said leg adjacent said leg gear segment.

6. An Outrigger as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said leg and said link are pivoted at different positions on said support; and

5 comprising:

a support adapted to be mounted on said vehicle;

a leg pivotally mounted at its inner end on said support and having ground engaging means at its outer end, said leg being movable between a lower ground engaging position and an upper storage position;

a link pivotally mounted at its inner end on said support and movable between a lower, leg engaging position and an upper storage position;

a longer gear segment on said link, having transverse teeth and convex on the tooth side; and

a shorter gear segment on said leg, having transverse teeth and convex on said tooth side, said gear segments interengaging at different angular positions of `said leg for causing said link to hold said leg against upward movement when said leg is in ground engaging position.

8. An Outrigger as `dened in claim 7, wherein:

said longer gear segment is mounted on the outer end of said link; and

said leg is provided with a protective pad for engagement by said link gear segment as said leg and link are moved between storage and use positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1905 Knox 212-145 1/1963 Larson 212-145 FOREIGN PATENTS 3/1914 France.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Ex'aml'ner. I. E. SIEGEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN OUTRIGGER FOR STABILIZING A VEHICLE OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING: A SUPPORT ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON SAID VEHICLE; A LEG PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ITS INNER END ON SAID SUPPORT AND HAVING GROUND ENGAGING MEANS AT ITS OUTER END, SAID LEG BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A LOWER GROUND ENGAGING POSITION AND AN UPPER STORAGE POSITION; A LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ITS INNER END ON SAID SUPPORT AND MOVABLE BETWEEN A LOWER, LEG ENGAGING POSITION AND AN UPPER STORAGE POSITION; RELEASABLE MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID LINK AND LEG FOR COOPERATIVELY CAUSING SAID LINK TO HOLD SAID LEG AGAINST UPWARD MOVEMENT WHEN SAID LEG IS IN GROUND ENGAGING POSITION; AND LATCH MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID LEG IN A GENERALLY UPRIGHT STORAGE POSITION, SAID LEG AND LINK BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED SO THAT SAID LEG, WHEN LATCHED, WILL HOLD SAID LINK IN A GENERALLY UPRIGHT STORAGE POSITION AGAINST A PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT. 